Police are searching for a suspected kidnapper who lured a 7-year-old north Minneapolis girl to follow him Saturday afternoon by asking her to help him "find his puppy."

The girl was found by police nearly two hours later, after she was dropped off by the suspect about 2½ blocks from home.

Police spokesman John Elder said there was "no sign of obvious injury or trauma." He said police were interviewing the girl about her abductor, who was described as a white man in his 30s with a "possibly ruddy or pockmarked, splotchy complexion" who was wearing a black jacket with horizontal stripes.

"Believe me, every resource we have that's available will be working towards apprehending this individual," Elder said.

The girl had been playing with several other children at a park on the 3100 block of James Avenue N., not far from her home, when the man approached them around 3 p.m. Saturday, Elder said.

"He walked up and asked if she would help him find his puppy," Elder said. The girl left with him, walking south on James Avenue.

When the girl's mother came out to look for her several minutes later, the other children told her what happened and she notified police, Elder said.

Police were on the scene within minutes, he said.

Nearly two hours later, police were preparing to issue an alert about the kidnapping when an officer spotted the girl walking alone several blocks from home.

Police say the suspect dropped her off from a car "and took off."

At 4:56 p.m., Minneapolis police announced on Twitter: "CHILD HAS BEEN FOUND SAFE!"

Asked if police believed it was a kidnapping, Elder said: "Without a doubt. That's not a question."

Maura Lerner • 612-673-7384